Timepiece

ABSTRACT

A timepiece, especially a wrist-watch, comprising at least one control mechanism operable manually and capable of occupying several working positions, characterized by the fact that the bottom carries indications of the several positions of the control mechanism and of the corresponding functions thereof.

United States Patent [1 1 Rochat 1 June 19, 1973 1 TIMEPIECE 1,667,685 4/1928 Atkinson 58/5 2,166,683 7 1939 G 1 [751 i Dame Neuchatel 3 316 709 51967 g Switzerland [73] Assignee: Ebauches S.A., Neuchatel (Canton O IG ATENTS OR APPLICATIONS of Neuchatel), Switzerland 812,029 1/1937 France 58/152 R [22] Filed: Feb. 1, 1972 [21-] APPL 222,581 Primary Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr.

Attorney- Kenwood Ross and Chester E. Flavin [30] Foreign Application Priority Data I Feb. 17, 1971 Switzerland 2302/71 [57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl. 58/58, 58/63 A timepiece p i y a wrisbwatch, comprising at [51] Int. Cl G04b 19/24, G04b 27/02 least one control mechanism operable manually and [58] Fleld 0 Search 58/4, 5, 58, 63, capable of py g several Working positions chap 58/152 R acterized by the fact that the bottom carries indications of the several positions of the control mechanism and [56] References Cited of the corresponding functions thereofv UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,470,688 10/1969 Miyasaka 58/58 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PAIENIEB .nm 1 9 ms TIMEPIECE The present invention relates to a timepiece, especially a wrist-watch, comprising at least one control mechanism operable manually, able to occupy several working positions.

This timepiece is characterized by the fact that its bottom carries indications of the several working positions of the control mechanism and of the corresponding operations.

The drawing shows, by way of example, one embodiment of the object of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a plan view, from above, of an electric wristwatch with dates and days indicators, and

FIG. 2 is a plan view, from underneath, of this watch, at an enlarged scale.

The electric wrist-watch as represented comprises an hour hand 1 and a minute hand 2 and a window for the days of the week 3 and a window for the dates 4. The functions which are manually accomplished are effected by means of a control stem which has not been represented, able to occupy three different axial positions and which carries a control crown 5. The bottom of the casing of the watch as represented, designated by 6, carries three representations or pictures 7, 8 and 9 of the crown S, situated on a common axis, corresponding to the three axial positions of the stem. One of them, i.e. the picture 7, is accompanied with a representation 10 of the upper face of the watch, so as it appears clearly that this position 7 corresponds to the pushed position of the control stem and of the crown 5. The operator will understand easily that the two other pictures 8 and 9 correspond to the intermediary, respectively pulled position, of the stem and of the crown.

The watch being an electric watch, it does not comprise any winding means, so that the position 7, pushed, of the crown 5, is a neutral position in which the operation of this crown, in one direction or in the other, is without effect. Consequently, the picture 7 of the crown is not accompanied by any symbol indicating any function.

In the intermediary position, as indicated in 8, the crown permits to operate, in one direction, the indicator of the days of the week and, in the opposite'direction, the indicator of the dates. Consequently, the picture 8 of the crown is accompanied with two representations 11 and 12 of the windows of the days of the week and of the dates, respectively, as well as with two arrows l3 and 14 indicating in which direction it is necessary to operate the crown for operating the indicator of the days of the week and the indicator of the dates, respectively.

In its pulled position, the crown permits to set the watch. Consequently, the picture 9 of the crown is accompanied with a representation 15 of a portion of the hour indexes of the dial of the watch as well as of its hour and minute wheels, so that the operator understands immediately that to this position of the crown 5 corresponds the setting operation.

The present arrangement facilitates the utilization of the watch which is sometimes difficult due to the very large variety of control mechanisms of the watches which are on the market.

As a modification, one could provide the case where the positions of the control member, or the functions, will be indicated, at least partially, by a disclosure engraved on the bottom of the casing.

What I claim is 1. In a timepiece having an upper face and a bottom side, the combination of: a manually operable control mechanism adapted to occupy several working positions, with the bottom side of the timepiece carrying indicia representing the several working positions and the corresponding operations.

2. In the timepiece as claimed in claim 1, including: a rotatable winding stem and control crown capable of occupying several axial positions, the bottom side of the timepiece carrying on a common axis representations of the control crown standing for different axial positions of the winding stern, each representation being accompanied by a symbolic representation of the winding stem function.

3. In the timepiece as claimed in claim 2, including: dates and days-of-the-week indicators, the winding stem allowing in one of its axial positions rotation in one direction for the setting of the dates indicator and rotation in the other direction for the setting of the days-of-the-week indicator, the representation of the control crown in the corresponding position of the winding stem being accompanied on one side with a representation of the window of the dates and on the other side with a representation of the window of the days-of-the-week, and arrows indicating the respective directions of rotation of the control crown for effecting manual correction of the dates and of the days-of-theweek. 

1. In a timepiece having an upper face and a bottom side, the combination of: a manually operable control mechanism adapted to occupy several working positions, with the bottom side of the timepiece carrying indicia representing the several working positions and the corresponding operations.
 2. In the timepiece as claimed in claim 1, including: a rotatable winding stem and control crown capable of occupying several axial positions, the bottom side of the timepiece carrying on a common axis representations of the control crown standing for different axial positions of the winding stem, each representation being accompanied by a symbolic representation of the winding stem function.
 3. In the timepiece as claimed in claim 2, including: dates and days-of-the-week indicators, the winding stem allowing in one of its axial positions rotation in one direction for the setting of the dates indicator and rotation in the other direction for the setting of the days-of-the-week indicator, the representation of the control crown in the corresponding position of the winding stem being accompanied on one side with a representation of the window of the dates and on the other side with a representation of the window of the days-of-the-week, and arrows indicating the respective directions of rotation of the control crown for effecting manual correction of the dates and of the days-of-the-week. 